Tower to the people

Lifeguard towers on Miami Beach are colorful and easy to distinguish. Lifeguards care over swimmers who play nearby, and the towers make a great meeting place when surrounded by an endless area of sand, surf and beach umbrellas.
(Richard Cummins / Corbis)
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Hot spot

Thousands of people descended on Miami Beach for Super Bowl XLIV between the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts. The city hosted a number of private and public events ahead of the big game.
(Roberto Schmidt / AFP - Getty Images)
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Life's a beach

South Beach, also nicknamed "The American Riviera," is well-known for celebrities, chic lifestyles and, of course, beaches. The man-made beach runs along the Atlantic Ocean for miles.
(Richard I'anson / Lonely Planet Images)
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Savoring history

The Art Deco district of South Beach is a hot spot for celebrities and is home to eccentric residents. The district has more than 800 buildings, built in the '30s and '40s, that are architecturally protected, helping its image as a chic, popular destination.
(Randy Faris / Corbis)
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Ear to the ground

Caribbean Flamingos -- this one eats from a pond at the Metro Zoo in Miami -- gets their color from the carotene in its diet.
(Robert Sullivan / AFP - Getty Images)
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Dolphins walk, whales fly

The Miami Seaquarium is a popular attraction that features eight marine animal shows. General admission tickets cost $37.95, and kids between the ages of three and nine get in for $27.95 (plus 7 percent sales tax).
(Jon Davison / Lonely Planet Images)
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Luxe lodgings

The Biltmore Hotel of Coral Gables "has been a favorite of world leaders, celebrities and sports stars since its opening in the 1920s," its Web site boasts. The resort features 275 rooms, including 130 suites, a spa and fitness center.
(The Biltmore)
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Pretty in pink

Classic buildings aren't the only thing visitors to Miami Beach will find. Vintage cars are often spotted in the Art Deco district. The annual Art Deco Weekend hosts a classic car fest where proud owners can show off their treasures.
(Corbis)
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Colorful celebration

A dancer wears a costume as she participates in the Miami Carnival. The carnival has been an annual event since 1984. It has grown from a small neighborhood festival to an international event bringing live bands and calypsonians from the islands.
(Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
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Collins mix

The renovated Delano Hotel (left), National Hotel (center) and the Sagamore Hotel line up Collins Avenue in Miami Beach. The city has a concentration of over 800 Art Deco buildings all within one square mile.
(Roberto Schmidt / AFP - Getty Images)
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Double-tall MOCA

Miami's Museum of Contemporary Art "is internationally recognized as a force in defining new trends and directions in contemporary art," its Web site says. Admission is $5 per person, $3 for students and seniors. MOCA Members and kids under 12 can enter for free.
(MOCA Miami)
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Bass appeal

The Bass Museum of Art was established 47 years ago ater Miami Beach accepted the art collection of John and Johanna Bass, and agreed it would maintain the works and make it available to the public.
(Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau)
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Different strokes

A visitor looks at "Thinking" during Art Basel Miami Beach back in 2008. "Art Basel Miami Beach is the most important art show in the United States, a cultural and social highlight for the Americas," the event's Web site boasts. This year's event takes place Dec. 2-5.
(Juan Castro / AFP - Getty Images)
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Reflective moment

Feeling the groove

Club patrons enjoy themselves on the dance floor at Mansion nightclub in Miami Beach, Fla. Once thought of as a place to visit Grandma in January, Miami's reputation as a party city has grown since the days of "Miami Vice," through the birth of the Art Deco fashion district in the early 1990s and the more recent explosion of the South Beach club scene.
(David Adame / AP)
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Port of call

Frequent cruisers can be forgiven for seeing Biscayne Bay and Miami simply as a departure point. However, the area offers a wealth of activities and events that can satisfy tourists with a variety of different interests.
(Jeff Greenberg / Lonely Planet Images)
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Can I get a refill?

The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables, Miami, started out as a quarry pit and was transformed in 1924 into the Venetian Casino. Now, more than 100,000 people visit Venetian Pool each year. During summer months, the pool is drained nightly and replentished from a subterranean aquifer.
(Richard Cummins / Lonely Planet Images)
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Year of the crab

Plates full of cracked stone crab claws are ready to be served at Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach. Joe Weiss opened a lunch counter in 1913, and the eatery has been serving the public for 97 consecutive seasons.
(Wilfredo Lee / AP)
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Feeling the beat

A crowd dances to the rythmic sound of congas at a local latin club in Calle Ocho (8th street), the main street of the Little Havana district of Miami.
(Roberto Schmidt / AFP - Getty Images)
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Why it's a deal: The four-night hotel accommodations would cost nearly $600 per person, including taxes, if booked separately. This $549 package includes a four-night stay and taxes, plus round-trip airfare, which would cost about $149 per person if booked independently through Kayak (AirTran).

Lodging: You'll stay at the glam 920-room Fontainebleau Miami Beach, where Frank Sinatra and Elvis once stayed. A recent $1 billion renovation updated amenities, which include an expansive pool complex, five upscale restaurants, and a two-story spa. The 22-acre property is along the ocean, right across from the beach.

Before you go: Transfers aren't included; you can book a shuttle for $22 each way per person. A taxi will cost about $32. For more ideas on what to do, visit Miami's official tourism site.